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Journal of Research Initiatives Journal of Research Initiatives
Volume 2 Issue 1 Anniversary Issue Article 12
1-31-2016
Impact of Class Size on Learning, Behavioral and General Impact of Class Size on Learning, Behavioral and General
Attitudes of Students in Secondary Schools in Abeokuta, Ogun Attitudes of Students in Secondary Schools in Abeokuta, Ogun
State Nigeria State Nigeria
Taofeek Ayotunde Yusuf University of Agriculture Makurdi
C A. Onifade University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
O S. Bello TAIDOB College, Asero
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Yusuf, Taofeek Ayotunde; Onifade, C A.; and Bello, O S. (2016) "Impact of Class Size on Learning, Behavioral and General Attitudes of Students in Secondary Schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria," Journal of Research Initiatives: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 12. Available at: https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/jri/vol2/iss1/12
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Impact of Class Size on Learning, Behavioral and General Attitudes of Students in Impact of Class Size on Learning, Behavioral and General Attitudes of Students in Secondary Schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria Secondary Schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
About the Author(s) T.A YusufT.A Yusuf is a lecturer at the department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
C.A Onifade is a doctor in the department of Communication and General Studies of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta.
O.S Bello is a senior Mathematics tutor and Head of Academics at TAIDOB College, Asero Abeokuta.
Keywords Keywords behavioural attitudes, class size, secondary schools, school factors, students
This research article is available in Journal of Research Initiatives: https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/jri/vol2/iss1/12
Journal of Research Initiatives (2016) 2(1)
Available online at: http://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/jri/
Impact of Class Size on Learning, Behavioral and General Attitudes of
Students in Secondary Schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria
Taofeek Ayotunde Yusuf, C A. Onifade, and O S. Bello
Abstract
Poor performance of university undergraduate students has been traced to their poor
academic performance and attitudes in secondary schools. There was concern over whether class
size was responsible for this. Researches on the effect of class size on academic performance and
achievement exist. The study was carried out to investigate the impact of class size on students’
attitude to studies using four (4) selected secondary schools in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria.
Possible effect of class size on the general, learning and behavioral attitudes were considered. Its
impact was also correlated with effect of other possible factors. Questionnaires were
administered to three hundred and sixty students selected evenly from JSS1-SS2 classes in each
of the schools. Two of the schools were private while the other two were owned by government.
Ten (10) hypotheses were tested in the study. It was found that class size has a highly significant
impact on students’ attitudes to studies in secondary school (p< 0.05). It affects students’
attention most strongly, then punctuality, motivation and participation but not the rate of
participation and asking or answering questions. The result also revealed that excessive noise is
the most common behavioral attitude associated with large classes. Hence, a serious attention
should be paid to class size in every educational setting for optimum learning achievement.
Introduction
The evident recurring failures in external examinations conducted by National
Examination Council (NECO) and West African examinations Council (WAEC) and subsequent
low performance of undergraduates in universities are largely traced back to poor attitudes of the
secondary school students. Various factors are suspected to be responsible for these ugly
developments. One of such factors is class size. Effect of class size on the students’ academic
performance has been reported. However, it is expected that a strong relationship exists between
students’ attitudes and performance but the impact of class size on the former has not much been
investigated. Hence, the purpose of this research is to determine whether there is a significant
relationship between the class size and students’ behavioral, learning and general attitudes to
study.
Class size is a popular concept in educational research defined as the average number of
students per class, calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled by the number of
classes. Hoffman (1980) described it as the number of students per teacher in a class. Adeyemi
(2008) expressed it as an educational tool that can be used to describe the average number of
students per class in a school. It is often simply considered as the respective population of
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 2
students in each class. Various researchers have established its strong relationship with students’
academic performance. Kedney (1989) saw it as a tool for measuring the performance of
educational system.
In Nigeria, Class size in public secondary schools is far above the recommended 30 or 40
students per classroom. Martins et al., (2007) reported in Oyo State that average class size in
most secondary school exceeds 50. Nigerian schools that have as many as eighty (80), hundred
(100) or above 100 students per class have also been reported (Osim, 2011). These class sizes are
considered to be too large for optimum academic achievement of students. This among other
factors might have prompted Yusuf (2012) to conclude that a number of things are wrong with
the educational systems in Nigeria.
Different researchers (Adeyela, 2000; Adeyemi, 2012; McKeachie, 1980) have reported
that large class sizes have negative effect on academic task. Idienumah (1987) has included that
class size ranks amongst the most important factors that have strong and direct influence on
academic performance of schools. Similarly, Alebiosu (2000) and Oderinde (2003) have reported
that students in small classes have greater achievement level than those in large classes.
Kolawole (1982) established an inverse correlation between class size and student’s achievement
concluding that the larger the class, the lower the student’s achievement.
Nevertheless, academic performance is directly a function of attitudes of the learners. It is
expected that large classes reduce effective classroom control. It thus has a potential to
encourage distraction and disruptive behaviours amongst the students. Finn et al. (2003)
remarked that students in small classes display less disruptive behavior than those in large
classes. Fischer and Grant (1983) asserted that class size significantly affects the level of
students’ cognitive skills in the classroom. According to Finn and Achilles (1999), small classes
improved both the students’ performance and learning behavior as well as it yields fewer
classroom disruptions and discipline problem. In view of the above, research has suggested that
smaller classes are usually preferred by both instructors and students (Smith and Glass, 1979;
Guseman, 1985). Olatunde (2010) advised an educational policy of class sizes less than 30 while
National Policy on Education (FRN, 2004) recommended the teacher-student ratio of 1:40.
More so, students’ engagement has been enlisted amongst key elements of educational
success (Creemers, 1994). Evidences have shown that it affect pupils' achievement (Rowe,
1995). Meanwhile, Student engagement has been defined as the level of participation and
intrinsic interest that a student shows in school (Newmann, 1992). It involves both behaviors and
attitudes (Johnson et al., 2001). The author further made distinctions between these two terms.
He classified persistence, effort and attention as behaviors and enlisted motivation, positive
learning values, enthusiasm, interest and pride in success as attitudes.
Pascarella and Terenzini(1991) equated student’s engagement to students’ involvement
and concluded that the greater it is, the greater is his or her level of knowledge acquisition and
general cognitive development. It has also been reported that engaged students learn more, retain
more, and enjoy learning activities more than students who are not engaged (Hancock and Frank,
2002). According to McKeachie (1980), large classes are simply not as effective as small classes
for retention of knowledge, critical thinking and attitude change. Since large class has been
found more prominent in secondary school, poor attitudinal change is expected. This may be due
to ineffective classroom management and control by the teachers who are already inundated by
the exploded learners’ population. This may be the reason why Yusuf (2012) remarked that
teachers in public secondary schools feel no concerned about affective development of the
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 3
students. Hence, the effect of class size on attitudes related to study is still opened for an in-depth
and more decisive analysis.
Methodology
Four prominent secondary schools within two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in
Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria were selected for the study. The schools include TAIDOB College
(Private/Day&Boarding) and Asero High School (Government/Day) in Abeokuta South LGAas
well as Aminat International College (Private/Day&Boarding) and Nawarudeen Grammar
School (Government/Day) in Odeda LGA. Ninety students (90) were taken from each of the
schools at various arms of Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) to Senior Secondary School 2
(SS2). SS3 were excluded from the study due to West African Senior Secondary Certificate
Examination (WASSCE) that was on-going at the time. The data for the study were sought
through Questionnaires administered to three hundred and sixty (360) students from the four
selected schools. The Questionnaire was appropriately designed and formulated to provide
answers to questions and information required to achieve the objectives of the study.
Attitudes Classification and Coding
The attitudes are classified as general, learning and behavioral. The effect of class size on
each of these classified attitudes as well as on their different combinations was considered. This
was coded for each classified attitude using both the alphabets and numbers for easy analysis
such that A, B, C…stands for the different categories of general, learning or behavioral attitude
while 1,2,3 …denote the numbers of these attitudes combined in each category. For instance, A
(or A1), B (or B1) and C (or C1) means different categories of single general, learning or
behavioral attitudes affected by class size while A3, B3, C3 means different categories of three-
combined set of these attitudes in each class. The data for the study were analyzed using IBM
SPSS statistics software version 21.
Results
Number of Respondents (Students) in Schools
The population and distribution of the respondents across all the schools is presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Number of Respondents (Students) in selected schools
Schools Number of students
Asero High School 90
Aminat International College 90
Taidob College 90
Nawairudeen Grammar School 90
Total 360
The information on Table 1 indicates that 90 students sampled are evenly selected in each of the
four schools to make up a total of 360 respondents used in the study.
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 4
Gender Distribution
Table 2: Gender distribution of respondents (students)
Gender Frequency Percentage
Male 144 40.0
Female 216 60.0
Total 360 100.0
Table 2 indicates that 40% of the respondents were male and 60% were female. It confirms that
there were more female (216) respondents than male (144).
Students’ Responses to Questions on Class Size
Questions relating to class size and students’ attitude as well as the effect of the former
on the latter were posed to the students. The analyses of the responses of the respondents to these
questions are presented in the Table 3 and 4. Table 3 shows the responses of six (6) of the twelve
questions while Table 4 shows the remaining.
Table 3: Students’ Responses to Questions Related to Class Sizes
Questions Response Frequency Percentage
Do you personally like your class population? Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
281
66
13
360
78.1
18.3
3.6
100.0
If yes, what is your likely reason? Academic
Social
Others
Academic&
social
Total
244
74
2
6
326*
74.8
22.7
0.6
1.8
100.0
Do you think the class size will motivate you
academically?
Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
258
65
37
360
71.7
18.1
10.3
100.0
Do you think the class population has any
positive effect on your attitude to study?
Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
215
122
23
360
59.7
33.9
6.4
100.0
Do you think the students’ population in your
class negatively affects your attitude to
study?
Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
116
216
28
360
32.2
60.0
7.8
100.0
Are you always motivated to attend the class? Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
328
15
12
355*
92.4
4.2
3.4
100.0
*No response from the remaining students
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 5
Table 3 shows that 78.1 percent of the students like their class population, 74.8 percent
like it for academic reason and 71.7 percent agreed that the class size motivates them
academically. More so, 59.7 percent agree that class population would affect their attitude to
studies positively; 60.0 percent disagreed with the idea that class population would negatively
influence it while 82.4 percent indicated that that they were always motivated to attend classes.
The outcome of the correlation analysis of the data on table 3 shows that the class size has a
significant impact on student’s motivation to their studies (p<0.05) as well as a highly significant
impact on their motivation to attend classes (p<0.05). It also has both a highly significant
positive and highly significant negative impacts on the students’ attitude to studies (p<0.05).
Table 4: Responses to questions on effect of class Size
Questions Response Frequency Percentage
Are you always present in class? Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
351
6
1
358*
98.0
1.7
0.3
100.0
If yes, do you think the population in your class
is an encouraging factor?
Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
251
77
32
360
69.7
21.4
8.9
100.0
If no, is your discouragement due to population
of students in your class?
Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
84
147
46
277*
30.3
53.1
16.6
100.0
Do you actively participate in class? Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
332
8
17
357*
93.0
2.2
4.8
100.0
How often do you ask or answer questions
during lesson in class?
Always
Rarely
Never
Total
184
171
4
359*
51.3
47.6
1.1
100.0
Do you think the class population influences
your frequency of participation in class?
Yes
No
Can’t say
Total
172
157
27
356*
48.3
44.1
7.6
100.0
*No response from the remaining students
Table 4 shows that 98.0 percent of the students were always present in classes and 69.7
percent indicated class size as the factor that encouraged them. Among those that are not always
present in classes, 53.1 percent indicated that class size is not the discouraging factor. 93.0
percent actively participate in classes, 51.3 percent frequently ask or answer questions in classes
while 48.3 indicated this attitude is influenced by their class population.
The outcome of the correlation analysis of the data on Table 4 shows that the class size
has a class size has a highly significant impact on the frequency at which students attend and
present in classes (p < 0.05). It is also highly significant as a factor that both encourages and also
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 6
discourages students to attend classes (p<0.05). Meanwhile, class size has no significant impact
on the active participation of students in class as well as on the rate at which students answer
questions during lesson in classes (p<0.05) but has a highly significant impact on the rate at
which students participate in classes (p<0.05)
Class Size and General Attitude of Students
The possible the effect of class size on the general attitudes of the students as well as on
the combination of two or more of these attitudes was examined. The frequencies of the
responses given by the students are presented in Table A1.The result in Table A1 is shown on
Fig. 1
Fig. 1: A graph showing frequency of general attitudes affected by class size
Table A1 shows that 23.2 percent of the students indicate that class size affects their
punctuality, 28.9 percent say it affects their attention, 6.8 percent of them indicate its effect on
their motivation and 8.7 percent indicate it on their commitment. Meanwhile, 7.6 percent of them
indicate its effect on both their punctuality and attention while the percentage indicating its effect
on other attitudes combination is insignificant.
Class Size and Learning Attitudes
Frequencies of the respondent to questions of the effect of class size on learning attitudes
such as attention or concentration, interest or motivation to studies, attendance in class,
participation, asking questions, answering questions and various combination of two or more of
these attitudes are presented in Table A2, A3 and A4. Table A2 shows single and double
combinations of the attitudes; A3 shows the combinations of three and four of the attitudes while
A4 shows five and six of these attitudes combined. The entire information on the three tables is
shown in Fig. 2.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S
Fre
quen
cy
General Attitudes Classification
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 7
Fig. 2: A graph showing effect of class size on learning attitudes
Table A2 shows that 104 students indicate that class size affect their
attention/concentration, 25 indicate that it affects their interest/motivation, 23 indicate that it
affects their participation; attendance, 22; both attention and answering questions, 19 while 16 of
them indicate that it affects their asking questions while the rest is insignificant. In Table A3, 13
students indicate that it class size affects their attention/concentration, attitude to asking
questions and answering questions altogether; 4 students indicate that the class size also affect
collectively, their attention/concentration, interest/motivation and attendance altogether while 4
students indicate that class size affects all of their attention/concentration, participation, asking
questions and answering questions and so on. In Table A4, 9 students indicate that the class size
affect the entire six attitudes of attention/concentration, interest/motivation, attendance in class,
participation, asking questions and answering questions while 6 students indicate five with the
exclusion of attendance in class. The number of the remaining respondents is insignificant.
Behavioral attitudes associated with large class size
Responses were also elicited on the behavioral attitudes associated with larger classes
such as excessive noise, teachers’ inaudibility, group learning, usual disagreement, and collective
problem solving. The finding is presented in Table A5 and A6.Table A5 shows the frequencies
of the single and double attributes affected by large class while A6 shows that of three and four
attributes. The result on the two tables is shown in the Fig. 3.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
A1 C1 E1 A2 C2 E2 G2 I2 K2 M2 B3 D3 F3 H3 J3 L3 N3 B4 D4 F4 H4 B5 D5 A6
Fre
quen
cy
Learning Attitudes Classification
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 8
Fig. 3: A Graph showing the frequency of behavioral attitudes associated with large class size
Table A5 shows that 135 students indicates excessive noise as the commonest class
behavior in large class; 31 indicate it as teachers’ inaudibility; 56 indicate it as group learning
and 17 indicate it as collective problem solving. Meanwhile, 26 students indicate it as both the
excessive noise and group learning; 14 indicate as both excessive noise and collective problem
solving while 17 indicate it as both the group learning and collective problem solving. Other
responses are in significant. In Table A6, 5 students indicate that the commonest class behavior
in large class are excessive noise, teachers’ inaudibility and group learning , 19 students indicate
them as excessive noise, group learning and collective problem solving while 4 (10%) students
indicate them as excessive noise, group learning, usual disagreement and collective problem
solving altogether. Other responses are insignificant.
Results and Discussion
The result indicates the ration of male and female students as 2:3 respectively. Since, the
students are selected randomly based on class population and/or willingness, it is reasonable to
conclude that female students constitute a larger percentage of class sizes in secondary schools
than male and/or that they are more inquisitive and readily show willingness to responsibility
than male students. The result also shows that student’ attention is the most affected general
attitude by class size, followed by punctuality. This implies that students’ attention in class in
being diverted when class size is large due to various distractions. The regular distractions and
daily loss of attentions discourage some students who my likely feel reluctant to attend schools
which then reduces their level of punctuality. Generally, these findings agree in total with that of
Prime and star (2003) and Olatunde (2010).
More so, the result has also confirmed that class size has a significant effect on the
motivation of students to attend classes as well to their studies. The study again reveals that
class size may significantly encourage or discourage students from attending or being present in
classes. Large classes are often too boring, noisy and rowdy which may constitute
discouragement. On the other hand, small class size is less congested and may encourage
staying in the class room.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 A4 B4 C4
Fre
quen
cy
Behavioural Attitudes Associated with Large Class
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 9
Nevertheless, the result further indicates that class size has a significant positive or
negative impact on students’ attitudes. Of course, when class size is large, the expected impact is
negative and vice versa. The students in smaller classes are found to exhibit better learning
achievement than those in larger classes. This is similar to the result obtained by Blatchford et
al. (2003) that children in large classes are more likely to be off task, particularly in terms of not
paying attention to the teacher and not focusing on their work when working on their own.
However, the study shows that active participation as well as the rate of asking or answering
questions is not affected by class size. It implies that once in the classroom, students participate
actively regardless of the number of students’ in the class. They also ask or respond to questions
not minding of the populations of students in the classroom. This may mean that other factors
such as interest in the subject influences active participations and asking or responding to
questions.
The study found that attention or concentration is the learning attitude that is most
affected by class size. Students may likely lose the attention because of their far distance from
the board. This makes teachers’ voice less audible and writings unclear. This agrees with the
report of Totusek and Staton-Spicer (1982) that students who choose a seat near the blackboard
show greater creativity, being more intellectually engaged and conscious of the school purposes.
It was also reported that that students who sit close to front of the class usually have fewer
absences (Stires, 1980), participate actively in class (Sommer, 1967) and give more attention to
the taught subject (Schwebel, 1972).
This also corroborates the additional finding that excessive noise is the most common
behavioral attitude associated with large class. It is not unexpected that attention or concentration
is impaired in the large classroom where noise is inevitably a usual occurrence. It is the same
facts expressed by Finn and Achilles (1999) that small classes improved the learning behavior as
well as it yields fewer classroom disruptions and discipline problem.
Class size affects students’ learning, behavioral and general attitudes in secondary
schools in Abeokuta, Ogun state Nigeria. It has a highly significant impact on varieties of
students’ attitudes to studies. It affects students’ attention most strongly, then punctuality,
motivation and participation but not the rate of participation and asking or answering questions.
Excessive noise is the most common behavioral attitude associated with large classes.
Appendices
Table A1: Class Size and General Attitudes
S/N General Attitudes Coding Frequency Percent
1 Punctuality A 61 23.2
2 Attention
B 76 28.9
3 Motivation
C 18 6.8
4 Commitment
D 23 8.7
5 Absence
E 9 3.4
6 Punctuality/Attention
F 20 7.6
7 Punctuality/Motivation G 3 1.1
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 10
8 Punctuality/Commitment
H 2 0.8
9 Punctuality/Absence
I 2 0.8
10 Attention/Motivation
J 6 2.3
11 Attention/Commitment
K 13 4.9
12 Attention/Absence
L 1 0.4
13 Motivation/Commitment
M 4 1.5
14 Punctuality/Attention/Motivation
N 6 2.3
15 Punctuality/Attention/Commitment
O 8 3.0
16 Punctuality/Attention/Absence
P 1 0.4
17 Punctuality/Motivation/Commitment
Q 1 0.4
18 Attention/Motivation/Commitment
R 1 0.4
19 Punctuality/Attention/Motivation/ Commitment
S 8 3.0
Total
263* 100.0
*No response from remaining students
Table A2: Learning attitudes affected by class size
S/N Learning Attitudes Coding Frequency
1 Attention/Concentration A1 104
2 Interest/Motivation
B1 25
3 Attendance
C1 22
4 Participation
D1 23
5 Asking Questions
E1 16
6 Answering Questions
F1 12
7 Attention/Concentration& Interest/Motivation
A2 10
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 11
8 Attention/Concentration& Attendance
B2 4
9 Attention/Concentration& Participation
C2 6
10 Attention/Concentration& Asking Questions
D2 9
11 Attention/Concentration& Answering Questions
E2 19
12 Interest/Motivation& Participation
F2 3
13 Interest/Motivation& Asking Questions
G2 4
14 Interest/Motivation& Answering Questions
H2 1
15 Attendance& Asking Questions
I2 4
16 Attendance& Answering Questions J2 3
17 Participation & Asking Questions K2 3
18 Participation& Answering Questions
L2 1
19 Asking Questions& Answering Questions
M2 4
Total 273
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 12
Table A3: Learning attitudes affected by class size (Cont’d)
S/N Learning Attitudes Coding Freq. Percent
1 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation & Attendance
A3 4 6.9
2 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation & Participation
B3 2 3.4
3 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation &Asking Questions
C3 3 5.2
4 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation & Answering Questions
D3 1 1.7
5 Attention/Concentration, Attendance& Asking Questions
E3 2 3.4
6 Attention/Concentration, Attendance & Answering Questions
F3 1 1.7
7 Attention/Concentration, Participation & Asking Questions
G3 1 1.7
8 Attention/Concentration, Participation &Answering Questions
H3
1
1.7
9 Attention/Concentration, Asking Questions & Answering Questions
I3
13
22.4
10 Interest/Motivation, Participation & Asking Questions J3 2 3.4
11 Interest/Motivation, Participation& Answering Questions
K3
2
3.4
12 Interest/Motivation, Asking Questions& Answering Questions
L3
3
5.2
13 Attendance, Asking Questions& Answering Questions M3 2 3.4
14 Participation, Asking Questions& Answering Questions N3 4 6.9
15 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Attendance & Participation
A4
2
3.4
16 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Participation& Asking Questions
B4
1
1.7
17 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Participation& Answering Questions
C4
4
6.9
18 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Asking Questions &Answering Questions
D4
2
3.4
19 Attention/Concentration, Attendance, Participation & Answering Questions
E4 1
1.7
20 Attention/Concentration, Attendance, Asking Questions &Answering Questions
F4
2
3.4
21 Attention/Concentration, Participation, Asking Questions& Answering Questions
G4
4
6.9
22 Interest/Motivation, Participation, Asking Questions& Answering Questions
H4
1
1.7
Total 58
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 13
Table A4: Learning attitudes affected by class size (Cont’d)
S/N Learning Attitudes Coding Freq.
1 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Attendance, Participation& Answering Questions
A5 2
2 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Attendance, Asking Questions& Answering Questions
B5 1
3 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Participation, Asking Questions & Answering Questions
C5 6
4 Attention/Concentration, Attendance, Participation, Asking Questions & Answering Questions
D5 1
5 Interest/Motivation, Attendance, participation, Asking Questions &Answering Questions
E5 1
6 Attention/Concentration, Interest/Motivation, Attendance, Participation, Asking Questions &Answering Questions
A6 9
Total
20
Table A5: Common behavioral attitudes associated with large class
S/N Behavioral Attitudes Coding Frequency
1 Excessive Noise A1 135
2 Teachers Inaudibility B1 31
3 Group learning C1 56
4 Usual disagreement D1 1
5 Collective Problem Solving E1 17
6 Excessive Noise& Teachers inaudibility A2 4
7 Excessive Noise &Group learning B2 26
8 Excessive Noise& usual Disagreement C2 8
9 Excessive Noise& collective Problem Solving D2 14
10 Teachers Inaudibility & Group Learning E2 1
11 Teachers Inaudibility & Collective problem Solving F2 9
12 Group learning & Collective problem Solving G2 17
Total 319
CLASS SIZE ON LEARNING Journal of Research Initiatives 14
Table A6: Common behavioral attitudes associated with large class
S/N Behavioral Attitudes Coding Frequency
1 Excessive Noise, Teachers Inaudibility & Group Learning A3 5
2 Excessive Noise, Teachers Inaudibility & Collective Problem Solving
B3
3
3 Excessive Noise, Group Learning & Usual Disagreement C3 3
4 Excessive Noise, Group Learning & Collective problem Solving D3 19
5 Teachers Inaudibility, Group Learning & Usual Disagreement E3 2
6 Excessive Noise, Teachers Inaudibility, Group Learning &Usual Disagreement
A4
3
7 Excessive Noise, Teachers Inaudibility, Group Learning& Collective problem Solving
B4
1
8 Excessive Noise, Group learning, Usual Disagreement & Collective Problem solving
C4
4
Total 40
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About the Authors
T.A. Yusuf is a lecturer at the department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Agriculture,
Makurdi. He is an Engineer registered with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria
(COREN). He is also an educationist whose major areas of focus are engineering education and
related educational research. He has taught in various capacities and has been involved in pre-
university educational administration. He has Masters in Mechanical Engineering and a Post
Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
C.A Onifade is a doctor in the department of Communication and General Studies of the Federal
University of Agriculture Abeokuta. She has supervised many post graduate educational
researches at Abeokuta Study Centre for National Teachers' Institute, Kaduna.
O.S Bello is a senior Mathematics tutor and Head of Academics at TAIDOB College, Asero
Abeokuta. He has B.Ed. in Mathematics Education.
